Developing Hospice and Palliative care centres should be given top priority in future

Palliative care remains the only and indeed the most appropriate form of treatment for patients at incurable stages. Pain and palliative care units touch the lives of those who are in need of care and attention.

- Dr Arun Oommen

Palliative care is a holistic care which fulfills the requirements of chronically ill or terminally ill patients. It has become an emerging need of the day as the existing healthcare facilities play only a limited role in the care of chronically ill people in society. Patients with a terminal illness in most cases spend their lives in the community among their family and neighbours, so there is a need for a multi-disciplinary team for their constant care. General practitioners working with palliative care teams stated that home care was the preferred option for most people with a terminal illness, and it relies on good community-based services, a general practice workforce competent in palliative care practice, and the willingness to accommodate patients.

Palliative care volunteers are primary caregivers who originate normally from the same locality with local knowledge and good public contact through which they can make significant contributions in teamwork by bridging the gap between the patient community and the outside world.

Aim:

The present study has been undertaken to analyse the impact of palliative care services on patients by considering 51 variables.

Materials and Methods:

The respondents of the study include 50 pain and palliative care patients selected at random from 15 palliative care units functioning in Ernakulam district. The analysis was made by using statistical techniques viz. weighted average method, Chi-square test, Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance on ranks and percentages.

Results:

The study revealed that the major benefit of palliative care to the patients is the reduction of pain to a considerable extent, which was unbearable for them earlier. Second, the hope of patients could be maintained or strengthened through palliative care treatment.

Conclusion: